Ascension Coffee is Now Open in the Design District

After a few of the usual permit-type delays from the city, a new coffee joint has officially opened its doors to the coffee-obsessed masses of Dallas. If you're not the type to define yourself as coffee-obsessed, that's OK. All you need to know is that there's a new, locally owned spot to get your coffee fix right behind the Meddlesome Moth.

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Ascension's custom-branded Synesso Hydra Hybrid espresso machine

But if you are on the more obsessed side of normal, may I direct your attention toward the fact that Ascension Coffee comes complete with a buzz-worthy Synesso Hydra Hybrid espresso machine. Don't know what that is? Suffice it to say it costs around $20,000 and is the only one in town. And if that fact doesn't make you want to sample the espresso that the machine produces, well, then you're clearly not hard core enough. But that's also OK; the staff at Ascension won't judge as I have. They're extremely friendly without the usual smugness that comes with their level of coffee expertise.

The interior of Ascension combines rich woods, chrome, brick and their signature bright red bent wood chairs. Because of this weekend's unseasonably beautiful weather, most of Ascension's customers were enjoying their beverages on the coffee house's front patio.

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Ascension's interior view

The mix of outdoor, high-top and booth seating makes for a comfortable space to hang out, work or grab a quick beverage, caffeinated or otherwise, any time your day should require it. The sign out in front says "craft coffee, wine, food," and word is the space will become a wine bar in the evenings, open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

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house-baked goods from the kitchen at Ascension

During my visit I learned from owner Russell Hayward that while at the moment food service is limited to house-made baked goods and breakfast tacos, they plan to start serving paninis late this week, followed by a full menu of French and American fare in early January. My drink of choice was a nonfat chai latte, beautifully decorated with cinnamon, revealing an intense gingered bite beneath each creamy sip. Now that I've had a taste of Ascension, I'm intrigued to try more.

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A beautiful chai

Ascension Coffee is located at 1621 Oak Lawn Ave., near the corner of Oak Lawn Avenue and Interstate 35.